Egypt’s national soccer team enters the 2026 World Cup with unprecedented expectations as the country seeks its first tournament victory in nearly a century of competition.
The team’s coach, who previously helped Egypt reach the 1990 World Cup as a player by scoring the decisive goal against Algeria, now leads the squad with different pressures. While past World Cup qualifications sparked massive celebrations throughout the soccer-loving nation, this year’s qualification was received with more reserved enthusiasm as fans set their sights on actual performance rather than just participation.
The increased allocation of World Cup spots for African nations has shifted expectations dramatically. Egypt’s track record shows early exits in 1934, 1990, and 2018, a disappointing history for a country that has claimed seven Africa Cup of Nations championships.
The team has been placed in Group G with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, presenting what many consider a genuine opportunity to advance beyond the opening round for the first time in the nation’s World Cup history.
“I see the ambition in the players. They want to achieve more than what Egypt did in past World Cups,” Hassan told CAF’s official website. “We need to perform better at the World Cup. This is my main goal.”
Mohamed Salah continues to anchor Egypt’s offensive strategy, though the 33-year-old forward is no longer considered at his prime following a disappointing final season with Liverpool. Salah, who netted Egypt’s only two goals during their 2018 World Cup campaign, remains just two goals away from breaking the national scoring record.
The squad will also count on Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush to provide additional scoring power, with these Premier League players leading a roster predominantly filled with domestically-based athletes.
In a surprising roster decision, Hassan selected 18-year-old striker Hamza Abdelkarim, currently on loan with Barcelona’s U19 squad, while excluding Nantes frontman Mostafa Mohamed from the team.
“I trust my players because their level is very high, whether it’s Mohamed Salah, Marmoush, or the players in the Egyptian league. They have great ambition,” Hassan said.
Egypt’s tournament schedule begins with a match against Belgium on June 15, followed by games against New Zealand one week later and Iran on June 27.
